Page 107 of Kaine

“That’s just it, I don’t know. I don’t know if they’re threatening to launch the same product or just want to sabotage ours. I don’t know anything.”

He runs his hand through his hair, his agitation, his frustration clear on his face.

“Oh my God, can they do that?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know. I don’t know what they have. It could be a hoax, but from what I’ve seen, it’s not.”

“So, what do they want? Are they blackmailing you?”

“Strangely enough, no. They haven’t asked for anything, just seem to be taunting me.”

“You think it’s Jacob?”

“He’s the most likely suspect. But. Dylan... er, I have some people looking into it.”

I smile. “You can say his name. I might stab him in the eye with a fork if I ever meet him, but you can say his name.”

I settle back down and in his arms.

“Jade, you know everything that’s important to me. You might know the past now, but you’re what’s important. My future.”

“I believe you, Kaine.”

***

Kaine comes with mewhen Henry drives me back to work. His hand never leaves mine in the car even when he helps me out of it. My fingers entangle with his, making me dizzy with something that is deeper than joy. I’m enveloped by a warming, grounding sense of contentment.

“What’s going on?” Kaine asks me as we walk towards the entrance. There’s a crowd of library staff and some people I recognize as regulars standing near the alleyway.

“Harriet!” I call out, seeing my friend leaning against the wall, looking bored without her phone in her hand.

“Yay! Jade!” she says, her face brightening into a smile as she runs over to me. “And Myst-, er Kaine. Hi, Kaine,” she corrects herself, catching my glare.

Kaine laughs, “Hello, Harriet. What’s going on here?”

“Oh, false fire alarm. One of the smoke alarms wouldn’t stop beeping so they kicked us all out to take care of it.”

I quickly glance at Kaine who immediately reverts to work mode. “Oh? Who’s in charge of that?”

“Like who’s the fire warden?”

“No, I mean, never mind. Is Harold around?”

“Er, yeah, somewhere. I think he was talking to the hot firemen dudes.”

“Okay, I’ll go look. You stay here.”

“What was that?” Harriet turns to me.

“I dunno,” I shrug. “He owns, among other things, a company devoted to fire safety. I guess it’s like his version of porn seeing firemen here.”

“Speaking of porn...” Harriet starts.

“We weren’t really,” I cut her off before she takes the conversation in a direction I’m not prepared to go.

“Speaking of porn... why’s your hair all... like that, and where’s the scarf you were wearing this morning... and ohmygod you just had a booty call.”

“Shush.”